They would then get an e-mail invite to download the Fortnite Android beta.

When this approach was announced in August security experts warned this could open the door for scammers trying to trick those looking to download the app.

Android has been hit by a number of high profile malware threats (Image: GETTY)

And this threat has been the focus of a recent study by Top10VPN.

In a post online, Top10VPN’s Head of Research Simon Migliano said: “Our biggest concerns relate to the excessive permissions.

“We found apps that can be used to spy on people by tracking location, reading contacts, using the camera – even secretly making phone calls. None of these permissions are present in the official Fortnite game files.”

The malware was uncovered by cybersecurity experts Bitdefender and was found on an app called ‘Sex Game’ that appeared on the Google Play Store in 2016.

Bitdefender senior e-threat analyst Bogdan Botezatu said: “I personally think [what] we are looking at is an alpha build of a bigger, more potent espionage tool.”

He added: “While this Trojan is extremely powerful and has the ability to record and upload phone calls, as well as use cameras and make its way into the Play Store, its code was left completely unobfuscated.”